Hi everyone! Thanks for taking a moment to read this. We’re a couple traveling full-time aboard our sailboat, S/V Daylight, trying to build a simple, adventurous life on the water. Daylight isn’t just a boat to us- she’s our home, our sanctuary, and sometimes the only constant in a world that shifts beneath our feet.

Over the last few weeks, two major failures hit us at the same time. During a grounding incident, our Perkins 4.236 diesel engine suffered a serious internal issue that now requires a full rebuild; and our windlass (the machine that raises and lowers our anchor) failed under heavy load. A bent shaft and internal damage have made it unsafe and unusable.

These two systems aren’t luxuries- they’re your safety, your mobility, and your entire ability to move, anchor, seek shelter, or reach help. Right now, without a functioning engine or windlass, we’re stuck [quite literally] and unable to safely get where we need to go.

Why We’re Asking for Help

We’ve poured everything we have into rebuilding this old boat and turning her into a home we can trust. And like many sailors, we don’t have a massive financial cushion to fall back on when the unthinkable hits- especially two major failures at once.

As much pride as we take in doing everything ourselves, this isn’t something we can fix with elbow grease alone.

Marine engine rebuilds and windlass replacements are extremely expensive, and the yards here in rural North Carolina are limited. Between towing, machining, parts, and labor, the cost quickly climbed beyond what we can manage on our own.

Where the Funds Will Go

Every dollar goes directly toward getting Daylight moving again:

Engine Rebuild:

Full teardown and rebuild of our Perkins 4.236

Machine shop work (head, block, crank)

Rebuild kit and critical replacement parts

Labor for reinstall, alignment, and testing

Fluids, filters, belts, mounts, and hardware

Windlass Replacement:

Replacement of our Lewmar V3 windlass

New shaft/gypsy/drum

Installation labor costs

Other Necessary Costs:

Haulout fee (if needed)

Yard labor

Misc hardware, shipping, and materials

What Your Support Means to Us

This boat has carried us through storms, long passages, and some of the most peaceful sunrises we’ve ever known. She’s our home, our dream, and our daily life. Being unable to move her safely is scary, humbling, and emotionally heavy.

Your help- whether it’s a donation or simply sharing the link- means the world to us. It helps us get our home reliable again, helps us stay safe on the water, and helps us keep chasing the quiet, simple life we’ve worked so hard to build.

Thank you for being part of our story.

Thank you for caring.

And thank you for helping us get Daylight back on her feet- or rather, back on her keel!

From our hearts,

Jay & Kay Daye

with Berkeley & Zelig, too!

SV Daylight